Talk to your doctor about your medications, herbs, and dietary supplements. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to 1 week before the procedure.

You may be given antibiotics.

You may be given laxatives or an enema.

Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.

The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia
will be given through an IV. It will block pain and keep you asleep through the surgery.

Description of the Procedure

An IV will be placed in your arm to give you fluids and medications. A breathing tube will be placed through your mouth and into your throat. This will help you breathe during surgery. You will also have a catheter placed in your bladder to drain urine.

An 8-10 inch incision will be made to open the abdomen. Surgical staples will divide the stomach vertically. The new stomach will be the shape of a slim banana. The rest of the stomach will be removed. Your new stomach can hold 50-150 mL (milliliters) of food—about 10% of what a normal adult stomach can hold.

Staples or stitches will be used to close the incision.

Immediately After Procedure

The breathing tube and catheter will be removed.

How Long Will It Take?

About 2 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

The usual length of stay is 4-6 days. If there are any problems, you will need to stay longer.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

A small thin tube with a camera will be used to look down your throat and into your stomach to check for problems.

You will receive nutrition through an IV at first, but slowly start eating again.

While in the hospital, you may be asked to:

Use a device called an incentive spirometer to prevent breathing problems

Bariatric surgery for severe obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at:
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric.htm. Updated June 2011. Accessed December 4, 2014.

Gastric sleeve. University of California, San Diego Health System website. Available at:
http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/surgery/bariatric/weight-loss-surgery/gastric-sleeve/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed December 8, 2013.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.